Dallas Doll

[Jack Cook]

Lt Frank Bouldin 352nd FS 353rd FG

[Lynn Allen]

Jack, do you know if Frank is still with us??

TIA,

Lynn

[visaliaaviation]

On a techno/historical observational note, Dallas Doll seems a curious example of incongruities. First is that Dallas was not its place of manufacture, but rather an Inglewood California example. Second it displays an odd canopy profile. (this could be due to type's steep increase in production rate numbers for this relatively early P-51D) Third, it clearly displays the first of two types of Dorsal Fin Fillets seen on P-51D's. Finally, it seen that only a portion of the fuselage national insignia is "greyed out", and that the first stripe of the fuselage "invasion stripes" is also grey.

Any substantiated comments on the WHY of these features is whole heartedly encouraged!

Thanks for the view, Jack!

[JDK]

Finally, it seen that only a portion of the fuselage national insignia is "greyed out", and that the first stripe of the fuselage "invasion stripes" is also grey.

Any substantiated comments on the WHY of these features is whole heartedly encouraged!

Not grey, dirty white. I'd guess, from a few years of photo interpretation, it's fuel contaminating the painted marking (and the temporary and rough) D Day stripe which has then collected dirt and staining as a result. Note the fuselage fuel fill tank cap's location in relation to the contaminated markings. You can see the streaking in the first black stripe, which reinforces the theory. Of course the bare metal cleans up much nicer.

The kill marking being orientated to the canopy rail / ground line is unusual, and looks 'off as a result; rather than the more familiar orientation to the centreline.

Wouldn't have looked closely without the question, so thanks for that!

(A final guess: Dallas Doll would be the pilot's choice and where the airplane came from might have nothing to do with it, of interest to us, but often not to the driver, airframe - just my ignorant-of-the-pilot opinion.)

[Django]

Yeah, I agree with James. It's stained white, and the pilot most likely could care less where the plane was made. That's where HE'S from (or his girl).

Not sure on the canopy.

[Jack Cook]

Jack, do you know if Frank is still with us??

Boy, I sure don't know.

First is that Dallas was not its place of manufacture, but rather an Inglewood California example.

Sorta like that A-26 picture I posted with the A20 on the nose

Second it displays an odd canopy profile.

replacement due to ____________maybe?

[visaliaaviation]

All good comments, gentlemen, and thank you!

Serial places this a/c from second production block, P-51-10NA. I believe the canopy is a production item. It may be that earlier block -5NA had this canopy supplant the NAA -2 style (as seen on famous Lou IV), late in its run. I was hoping someone could confirm or deny with some definition.

Interestingly, also famous (from the same photo op) E-2S , also a -5 a/c wears the same canopy, as Dallas Doll, and probably a retrofit DFF(???). I am aware of only one or two other -5's wearing same canopy. BTW- MANY, if not most, British based -5's appear to have been retrofitted with Dallas type canopies.

The dorsal fin fillet appears to have been a production standard starting with -10 block. Later type is straight along its spine. Also P-51D's and K's from the Dallas plant featured both types during their production runs.

The greyed out insignia could very well be a cosmetic inadvertant alteration brought about by discolorization from av gas spillage. Some have speculated that it was intentional, but I believe JDK is correct. I think Dallas Doll photo is telling on this respect.

Just wanted other's input. Thanks and encourage more questioning of"accepted story".

One more thing to consider regarding the dirty insignia. I agree with the avgas theory completely, however one of the reasons it might be even dirtier, is due to the exhaust. When "Miss Velma" was flown across this summer, she wasn't cleaned for the entire trip. By the time she reached England, she had completely greyed out insignias. This might even help out with the theory of grey insignias, in that, many were really just dirty.

[Jack Cook]

The a/c looks pretty clean except for area directly below the gas fillrt port
Phillip West did a great limited edition print of Dallas Doll in action pursuing 2 FW-190s

[Tex Longhorn]

There's a Frank H. Bouldin of the AF buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Born 1920, died 1990. He died in Ft. Worth, TX.

[Jack Cook]

That's the man RIP

[Lynn Allen]

The a/c looks pretty clean except for area directly below the gas fillrt port
Phillip West did a great limited edition print of Dallas Doll in action pursuing 2 FW-190s

A great print. I have #98 hanging in my office....

Lynn

[Lynn Allen]

The a/c looks pretty clean except for area directly below the gas fillrt port
Phillip West did a great limited edition print of Dallas Doll in action pursuing 2 FW-190s

A great print. I have #98 hanging in my office....

Lynn

[Chicoartist]

Here's a crop from a pic in my 4th FG stash ... yep, the staining is from gas/rag wiping ...

I'm presently doing a painting of this kite (Van Wyk's VF-X The Flying Dutchman, ex-Jim Goodson's VF-B razorback flown by Goody several times on D-Day). However, I'm showing the plane as she looked a wee bit earlier than this pic below - mine will be just about the time they returned from the first FRANTIC mission, with full invasion stripes and a bit less 'staining' - though I *do* have a fair share showing.



Wade

[Jack Cook]

I think a resolution should be passed allowing wade to only paint P-51s
with power blue camo on top or ones flown by Don Beerbower.